Month: May 2016

How could I know the difference between a warning sign and an appropriate behavior?answer: Know the warning signs.

IV-A.Warning Signs and Behaviors:Pervasive Developmental Disorder, PDDDiagnosis of this disorder is used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria is not met for other disorders. (DSM IV) Symptoms are similar to that of Autism.

Warning Signs and Behaviors of Autism:• impaired use of nonverbal behaviors in socialization
(eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, gestures)
• failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to
development level
• lack of seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or
achievements spontaneously with others
• lack of social or emotional expression/ reciprocity
• delay or total lack of verbal language development
with attempts to compensate
• impairment in ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
with others (in children who have adequate speech)
• lack of various, spontaneous make-believe play or
social imitative play appropriate for age/level
• significant preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and
restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal by
intensity or focus.
• stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
(hand or finger flapping or twisting, complex whole
body movements)
• persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

IV-B.Warning Signs and Behaviors:Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHDAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is significant for the display of a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typical for level of development.

Warning Signs and Behaviors of ADHD:Inattention:
• often fails to give close attention to details, makes
careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities
• often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
• often does not seem to listen when spoken directly
• often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks
that require sustained mental effort
(schoolwork, homework, etc.)
• often easily distracted by external stimuli
• often forgetful in daily activitiesHyperactivity:
• often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
• often leaves seat in classroom/other situations
where remaining seated is expected
• often runs about/climbs excessively in inappropriate situations
• often has difficulty playing or engaging in
leisure activities quietly
• often talks excessivelyImpulsivity:
• often blurts out answers before questions
have been completed
• often has difficulty awaiting turn
• often interrupts or intrudes on others
(butts into games, conversations, for example)

Note: The above lists are not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern.

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities:
• significant preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and
restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal by
intensity or focus.
• inflexible attachment to specific,
non-functional routines or rituals
• stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
(hand or finger flapping or twisting, complex whole
body movements)
• persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

– Significant impairment in social, occupational,
or other important areas of function
– No clinically significant general delay in language
– No clinically significant delay in cognitive
development, age-appropriate self-help skills,
adaptive behavior, and curiousity about environment

Asperger’s Disorder is significant for severe and sustained impairment in social interaction and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities.

Note: The above list provided is not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern.

How could I know the difference between a warning sign and an appropriate behavior?answer: Know the warning signs.

II-A.Warning Signs and Behaviors:Rett’s DisorderTypically following a short period of normal development:
• decrease in head growth from 5 to 48 months of age
• loss of previously acquired, purposeful hand skills
from 5 to 30 months with subsequent development
of stereotyped hand movements (ex: hand-wringing,
washing)
• loss of engaging in social interaction early in course
(despite social interaction often developing later)
• appearance of poorly coordinated gait or trunk movements
• severely impaired expressive and receptive language
development with severe psychomotor retardation

Rett’s Disorder is significant for multiple-specific deficits following a period of normal development and functioning after birth.

II-A.Warning Signs and Behaviors:Disintegrative DisorderTypically following at least a 2 year period of normal development:
• significant loss of previously learned skills
(before 10 years old) in at least 2 of the following:
expressive or receptive language, social skills or
adaptive behavior, bowel or bladder control, play,
motor skills
• impaired social interaction: nonverbal communication,
failure to develop peer relationships, lack of social or
emotional expression/reciprocity
• impaired communication: delay in spoken language,
inability to initiate or sustain conversation, stereotyped
and repetitive use of language, lack of
varied make believe play
• restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of
behavior, interests and intivities, including motor
stereotypes and mannerisms

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is significant of regression in multiple areas of functioning following at least a 2 year period of apparently normal development.

Note: The above list provided is not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern.

How could I know the difference between a warning sign and an appropriate behavior?answer: Know the warning signs.

Having worked with many parents and professionals advocating for children, I have often heard how they’ve observed certain ‘warning signs’ or behaviors over time and without enough suspicion to seek professional assessment. Many of these parents have communicated how they thought very little of these behaviors and simply attributed them to their child’s uniqueness and personality. It has been difficult and heart-breaking having then had to explain test results to parents of a child found with symptoms of a childhood disorder – especially having had these symptoms being observed for some time without much knowledge of them being ‘warning signs’.

I.Warning Signs and Behaviors: Autism• impaired use of nonverbal behaviors in socialization
(eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, gestures)
• failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to
development level
• lack of seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or
achievements spontaneously with others
• lack of social or emotional expression/ reciprocity
• delay or total lack of verbal language development
without attempts to compensate
• impairment in ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
with others (in children who have adequate speech)
• lack of various, spontaneous make-believe play or
social imitative play appropriate for age/level
• significant preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and
restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal by
intensity or focus.
• stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms
(hand or finger flapping or twisting, complex whole
body movements)
• persistent preoccupation with parts of objects

Autism is a broad term for a disorder that is significant for abnormal or impaired development of social interaction, communication and with a restricted repertoire of activities and interests. The above listing are some of the warning signs or behaviors significant of autism.

Note: The above list provided is not intended for the use of diagnosing disorders. Disorders are diagnosed by the severity, frequency and a combination of many factors. Please seek professional advice should any of the above listed criteria cause any concern.